So its John Ashcroft

Christian conservatives really wanted the Justice Department for themselves; and it looks like they're going to get it. Most Republicans divide into four categories: principled moderates, principled conservatives, wackos, and hacks. Ashcroft covers categories three and four. John Ashcroft is really, reallynot a good guy. But he's an out-going (as in voted-out-of-office) senator, so he'll be confirmed in a second.

Montana Governor Marc Racicot (frequently made fun of by Talking Points) was in line for AG but - according to press accounts - pulled himself out of the running.

This is a good example of one of the flaws of contemporary journalism. Racicot didn't pull himself out. He got negged by Bush (even after working hard for the job by abasing himself shamelessly in Florida last month) because of pressure from conservatives. But the Bushies say he pulled himself out. And Racicot says the same. So no one reports the obvious: that he got negged by Bush.

We can now get ready for the really odious appointees to get tapped by Bush for Interior, Labor, Defense, Justice, etc.

But before we go on. Let's give credit where credit is due. Tommy Thompson for HHS and Christie Whitman for EPA are rock-solid appointees. Would I have appointed them? Of course, not. But that's not the standard to expect. Both are mainstream conservatives who actually have real concern and knowledge about the areas of public policy they'll be working on. So credit where credit is due.